Castellania (Malta)

The Castellania in Merchants Street, Valletta, Malta. It was originally constructed by the Knights of Malta as the city's law courts.

The building was designed by architect Francesco Zerafa, and was built in 1760 during the reign of Grand Master Manuel Pinto de Fonseca, who died two years before the building was completed. It includes a florid stone-work and his crescent emblem. The statues on either side of the first floor balcony, which represent Justice and Truth, was made by Sicilian sculptor Maestro Gian. A pillory stone resides in the apex of the building's corner, for those convicted and sentenced to death after the Priest's Revolt of 1775. Above the stone is a hook, used to lift the bells of St. John, or to suspend prisoners that have been sentenced to death.

It is at the Castellania that physician and archaeologist Sir Themistocles Zammit discovered the Mediterranean strain of brucellosis in 1905.